Love
The Chung Kuh Yew Tuy
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book VI
The valleys show the mother-wort,
Now scorched in each dry spot.
Behold a wife driven forth from home,
Beneath hard famine’s lot !
She sadly sighs, she sadly sighs,
From husband torn and dearest ties.
The valleys show the mother-wort,
Now scorched where tall it rose.
Behold a wife driven forth from home,
By stern misfortune’s blows !
We hear her groans, we hear her groans,
As she her hapless fate bemoans.
The valleys show the mother-wort,
Scorched in each dampest place.
Behold a wife driven forth from home—
Bewail in vain her case!
Her tears aye flow, her tears aye flow;
Howe’er she grieve, ne’er ends her woe !
Codex Note
The sad case of a woman forced to separate from her husband by the pressure of famine.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Chung Kuh Yew Tuy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/66/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Chung Kuh Yew Tuy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/66/.
Read this poem with the Codex →